Daniel Boulton admits Bethany Vincent and Darren Henson manslaughter

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Daniel BoultonImage source, Lincolnshire Police
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Daniel Boulton is on trial for murdering Bethany Vincent and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson

A man who fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her nine-year-old son has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Daniel Boulton, 30, admitted killing Bethany Vincent and Darren Henson on the second day of his Lincoln Crown Court trial.

He continues to deny murdering the pair at their home in Louth, Lincolnshire, last May.

Prosecutors previously told the court Mr Boulton claimed he was suffering from a mental health condition.

Judge Mr Justice Pepperall told the jury the defendant accepted causing the unlawful deaths of Ms Vincent and her son, known as DJ, and they would have to decide whether he was guilty of murder.

Mr Boulton also pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest and to burgling an empty cottage the day after the killings.

Prosecutor Katherine Goddard QC said Mr Boulton's relationship with Ms Vincent began in March 2019, but he had become increasingly violent towards her and her family.

The court heard that, following a complaint to police in November 2019, Mr Boulton "repeatedly broke" an order not to contact Ms Vincent.

The weekend before the attack, Mr Boulton had sent nearly 900 messages to Ms Vincent on Facebook.

Ms Goddard said Mr Boulton had also developed a "hatred" for Darren - also known as DJ - who had autism.

He was also said to have threatened to "wipe out the blood line of her family".

Ms Goddard said that on 31 May last year, the day of the attack, Mr Boulton had walked 28 miles from his home in Skegness to Ms Vincent's home in High Holme Road where he repeatedly stabbed her and Darren.

Jurors were shown CCTV images capturing Mr Boulton at various points on his journey to Louth from the hostel in which he was living.

He continued to send messages to Ms Vincent as he made his way from Skegness despite her not replying, the court was told.

After the stabbings, Mr Boulton spent the night on the run.

The court heard that the next day he assaulted off-duty police officer PC Stephen Dennis who was walking his dog near Hubbards Hill, Louth, and tried to detain him before fleeing again.

Video footage from a police helicopter was shown of the moment he was cornered on a farm and Tasered by armed officers.

After his arrest, bodycam footage from an officer captured him asking for some water before saying: "I know I'm an evil person. I'm going to kill myself."

The trial continues.

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